CHAPTER 357: CHAPTER 357: VISITING XIAO BO’S HOME

Xiao Bo is from Xiang Province, and the next destination is his hometown.

Upon knowing this, Lin Xiaoyan suggested that Xiao Bo go home for a few days while she and Sister Nan stay nearby, exploring the area.

Xiao Bo was deeply touched, "Xiao Yan, the scenery there is beautiful, I’ll take you guys out when you visit!"

Lin Xiaoyan curiously asked, "Xiao Bo, how long has it been since you last went home?"

Xiao Bo thought for a moment, "The last time was three years ago."

"Three years ago?!" Lin Xiaoyan was somewhat shocked, "Don’t you have holidays every year?"

Xiao Bo laughed, "Yes, we do have holidays, but they’re short. Sometimes when I have a holiday planned, suddenly there’s a task handed out, and then..."

"That time three years ago, I had saved two years’ worth of holidays just to get half a month’s leave. It coincided with the New Year, so I went home to celebrate, hahaha..."

Listening to Xiao Bo’s words, Lin Xiaoyan couldn’t help but think of countless soldiers who cannot return home.

Nan Xi looked at Xiao Bo, "Have you informed your family that you’re coming back?"

Xiao Bo chuckled, "No, I want to surprise them!"

Lin Xiaoyan had done this before but without success.

"Once you get home, your family will be overjoyed!"

"Also, when you go home this time, you’ll definitely be pressured into marriage!"

Xiao Bo froze and smiled bitterly, "That might happen, but I don’t want to get married yet."

Lin Xiaoyan asked, "Why? Isn’t it typical for men to be eager to get married?"

Xiao Bo thought about the single soldiers in the military who were indeed keen to marry.

However, he personally did not feel that way at the moment.

"Maybe it’s because ever since I was young, I’ve always noticed my grandmother and aunt bullying my mother, and I’ve always felt that women suffer when they marry. I don’t want to make any girl suffer."

Upon hearing Xiao Bo’s words, Nan Xi and Lin Xiaoyan exchanged glances.

Lin Xiaoyan was a bit speechless, "There’s a problem with what you said!"

"What do you mean by making a girl suffer? If you stand up for her and protect your wife, she won’t suffer!"

Nan Xi coldly added, "Yes, the only reason women suffer is because of their husband’s neglect and incompetence."

Listening to their words, Xiao Bo paused in thought, recalling his mother’s grievances when he was younger.

Each time his grandmother and aunt bullied his mother, his father... would just sit by, repeatedly sighing.

When his mother faced grievances, she would return home, and his father would comfort her, telling her to tolerate it, saying everyone is family, not to make it look so bad...

What expression did his mother have then? It seemed like disappointment and numbness.

Xiao Bo’s heart grew incredibly complex; he joined the military right after graduating middle school, striving hard and pushing himself to stay on course.

He believed that once he succeeded, his mother wouldn’t be looked down upon by others anymore, wouldn’t be bullied again...

Lin Xiaoyan continued, "So, if you meet a girl you like and decide to marry her, you have to protect her, don’t let anyone bully her.

Because leaving her home, marrying you, and entering an unfamiliar family, apart from trusting her husband, relying on him, everyone else is a stranger to her."

Nan Xi: "Right, men should protect their loved ones. Forget about filial duties or family matters, if one can’t even protect his wife, he is a coward!"

Xiao Bo: ...

"I understand..." So, don’t glare at him saying he’s a coward; he absolutely won’t let his wife suffer!

At the same time, in Xiao Bo’s heart, his father’s image was crumbling for the first time, realizing that his mother’s suffering ultimately was due to his father’s incompetence.

They were approaching Xiao Bo’s home, Xiao Bo pointed at the village ahead and said, "Xiao Yan, Sister Nan, there’s my house ahead; you guys will have lunch there, after which I’ll take you to the city."

Lin Xiaoyan and Nan Xi nodded, "Alright."

Xiao Bo: "Actually, there’s room at my place; you guys can stay with us..."

When he returned home three years ago, their house was just built, huge and nice, with available rooms.

Lin Xiaoyan declined again, "Better not; moving in might make your family feel uneasy."

"They won’t, it’s just my parents and my sister at home; they’re really nice..."

Nan Xi interrupted Xiao Bo coldly, saying, "We’ll feel uneasy."

Xiao Bo: ... Oh.

Lin Xiaoyan covered her face, holding back laughter; Xiao Bo just couldn’t let things slide without being frank!

As the car slowly entered the village, people watched the unfamiliar vehicle come in, looking over.

Xiao Bo rolled down the window, flashed a bright smile, and greeted the villagers.

"Third Aunt, Fifth Aunt, you’re hanging around here."

"Fifth Grandfather, you’re also here."

The ones called were stunned, they walked closer, observing him for some time, before realizing.

"It’s Bo! Bo, how did you come back!"

"Bo? Oh, it really is you; Bo, you’ve prospered, driving such a good car!"

Xiao Bo laughed, "I haven’t prospered; this is my boss’s car. We passed by here, and my boss told me to visit home."

Upon hearing this, the villagers looked towards Nan Xi seated in the front passenger seat, Nan Xi maintained a stern face, not looking out.

Noticing the imposing aura of Nan Xi, the villagers assumed Nan Xi was the boss, unaware of Lin Xiaoyan seated in the back, out of view.

After a brief chat, Xiao Bo went back home.

As the car stopped, Xiao Bo looked at his home, both familiar and unfamiliar, and was overcome with warmth.

He was home!

"Sister Nan, Xiao Yan, this is my house!" Xiao Bo eagerly said as he got out of the car.

Lin Xiaoyan, curious to see Xiao Bo’s family’s reaction upon seeing him, followed suit and stepped out.

Nan Xi soon followed.

"Dad, Mom!" Xiao Bo shouted towards the house after getting out of the car.

Mrs. Jin was picking vegetables, hearing someone yell "Dad and Mom" outside, thinking it was another neighbor’s child returning home.

She couldn’t help but think of her son, who previously mentioned he might transfer back home...

"Mom! Mom..."

The voice outside grew closer, Mrs. Jin paused and curiously stood, wondering if a neighbor’s kid thought their mom was here?

Setting the vegetables aside, Mrs. Jin walked out.

The door opened, Xiao Bo immediately saw his mother.

"Mom, I’m back!"

Mrs. Jin’s eyes widened in disbelief, "Xiao Bo?"

"Yes, Mom!"

Xiao Bo quickly moved to his mother’s side and hugged her tightly.

Three years without seeing her, she seemed to have aged...

Xiao Bo’s eyes turned red.

Mrs. Jin embraced her son, feeling it was a dream, her son actually returned, and as she came to realization, Mrs. Jin joyfully held her son, tears of joy streaming down.

Lin Xiaoyan stood at the door, leaning and stretching her neck, sneaking peeks at the reunion scene inside.

Watching Lin Xiaoyan’s sneaky posture, Nan Xi was amused yet exasperated.